Eyelash comb

ABSTRACT

The eyelash comb of the present invention is comprised of two curved limbs joined or hinged at one end. Each limb has a toothed section for combing the eyelashes. The teeth are triangular and so positioned on the each toothed section that they intermesh when the limbs are pressed closed. A resilient material can be used as a spring to aid in keeping the limbs apart when no pressure is applied to the limbs. A critical aspect of the invention is that it is advantageously made of cardboard or cardboard like material,

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

There are no utility patent applications related to this application

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERAL SPONSORSHIP

No invention claimed in this application was made under Federallysponsored research or development.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an eyelash comb.

2. Description of the Related Art

Some prior mascara applicator and eyelashes combs are based on set ofteeth or filaments mounted on a single base, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,927,295;4,660,582; 3,343,551; 2,035,667; 1,727,837 and Des 315,428. Othermascara applicators that utilize dual arms or limbs have one arm bearinga toothed element are exemplified by U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,325,071 and5,007,442.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an inexpensive dual arm or limb eyelashcomb. One problem with prior eyelash combs is poor in-use visibility,i.e., the position of the comb is obscured or not easily seen duringuse. In one embodiment of the present invention portion of the limbs arecurved or angled to advantageously permit better in-use visibility andthus, enhanced safety over those eyelash combs or applicators mounted ona straight limb or arm when combing one's eyelashes and for removal ofexcess mascara. The combing and removal of excess mascara is also moreeffectively removed by the intermeshing teeth arrangement of theinventive eyelash comb.

An important aspect and advantage of the present invention lies in theuse of cardboard or cardboard like material in its construction. The useof cardboard is better for the environment as it is based on a renewableresource unlike most plastics. It is rigid but soft enough to minimizehurting the eye in the event of an accidental slip when combing one'seyelashes, another advantage over plastic and other more rigidmaterials.

The generally triangular shaped teeth allow for more efficient andeffective separation of the lashes. The effect is enhanced by the use ofopposing teeth arranged to intermesh when the two limbs are pressedtogether. The teeth of the present invention are extensions of thedistal ends of the planar limbs.

Another aspect of the invention lies in the curved distal end of thelimbs on which the teeth are located. This advantageously enables one toquickly comb smaller or larger areas of the eyelashes by pivoting thecomb in one's hand.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of one embodiment of the eyelash combof the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective thereof;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational thereof;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevational thereof;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational thereof, the opposite side view is a mirrorimage of the image shown;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the eyelash combof the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The eyelash comb of the present invention is basically and broadlycomprised of two planar curved limbs joined or hinged at one end. Eachlimb has a toothed zone or section and teeth projecting therefrom forcombing the eyelashes at a distal end opposite the hinged end. The teethare extensions of the outer edges of the planar limbs. The teeth aretriangular and so positioned on the each toothed section that theyintermesh when the limbs are pressed closed. A resilient material can beused as a spring to aid in keeping the limbs apart when no pressure isapplied to the limbs. An important aspect of the invention is that it isadvantageously made of relatively thin cardboard or cardboard likematerial, i.e., material having the physical properties of cardboard.Cardboard is a material made from a renewable resource such as plant ortree fiber and it is more ecologically friendly and cost effective thanplastics that are derived from non-renewable resources like oil.Cardboard is sufficiently rigid to effectively perform the combing andaid in removal of excess mascara and yet resilient enough to be bentinto a resilient hinge.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1-5, limbs (1,2) are joined at fold orbend 18, which acts as a hinge. The limbs have respective lower edgeportions (3, 15) that have substantially straight horizontal edges withrespective edge portions (4,13) that tapers or curves upwardly towardthe toothed distal end section or zone (5, 11) of their respective limbs(1,2). The points of teeth (8,12) as shown in these Figures, are madeand positioned to circumscribe a convex curve or outward vertical curveas indicated by imaginary line (19) and more particularly as shown inthe Figures, a compound convex curve or partial parabolic curve. Theouter edge (6,10) of the last tooth (8, 12) curves and smoothly mergeswith upper edge 7 and 9 of limbs 1 and 2, respectively. Teeth (8) oflimb 1 are bent inward towards teeth (12) and likewise, teeth (12) oflimb 2 are bent inwards toward teeth (8). Teeth (8) and (12) aretriangular. Spring (16) can be made of a strip of cardboard,cardboard-like material or less preferably any commercially availableresilient plastic material such as PET or polystyrene. The ends of thestrip are shown as 17 and 24. Portions of the strip is adhered or gluedto the inside portion of the limbs to create the spring.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, tips of triangular teeth (20) of thetoothed section or zone (22) are linearly aligned as shown by imaginaryline (21) instead of the curved alignment of the previous embodiment.Teeth (20) may be bent inwardly as in the previous embodiment.

The dimensions, i.e., width, length, of the limbs of the inventiveeyelash comb, are selected to provide optimal in-use visibility. Thedegree of curvature of the curved limb including the curved toothedsection embodiment offers an additional means for adjusting the in-usevisibility.

The limbs of the comb including the toothed sections are cut or formedfrom a single piece of cardboard or cardboard-like material and thenfolded or bent to form hinge area 18. The resilient spring material 16can be attached to the limbs by any suitable means such as by adhesivebonding.

It is noted that changes can be made without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention.

1. An eyelash comb comprising two opposing curved cardboard orcardboard-like material limbs joined at one end to form a hinge; each ofsaid limb having a toothed section at a distal end opposite said hinge;said toothed section having triangular teeth, each tooth having a tip;said teeth of the toothed section arranged such that the tips of saidteeth intermesh with said toothed section of the opposing limb when thelimbs are pressed closed.
 2. The eyelash comb of claim 1, wherein saidtips of said teeth of the toothed section are aligned to circumscribe anoutward curve.
 3. The eyelash comb of claim 2, wherein said outwardcurve is substantially a compound curve.
 4. The eyelash comb of claim 2,wherein said outward curve is substantially a parabolic curve.
 5. Theeyelash comb of claim 1, wherein teeth of each of said toothed sectionare bent or angled inwardly toward each other.
 6. The eyelash comb ofclaim 1, further comprising spring means positioned between said limbsfor applying opening tension to said limbs.
 7. The eyelash comb of claim6, wherein said spring means is comprised of cardboard or cardboard likematerial.
 8. The eyelash comb of claim 6, wherein said hinge iscomprised of plastic.
 9. The eyelash comb of claim 1, wherein said teethof the toothed section are linearly aligned.
 10. The eyelash comb ofclaim 1, wherein said limbs and corresponding toothed sections and hingeare formed of a unitary piece of cardboard or cardboard-like material.11. An eyelash comb comprising two opposing curved planar limbs joinedat one end to form a hinge; each of said limb having a toothed sectionat a distal end opposite said hinge; said toothed section havingtriangular teeth, each tooth having a tip; said teeth of the toothedsection arranged such that the tips of said teeth intermesh with saidtoothed section of the opposing limb when the limbs are pressed closed;said teeth of the toothed section are aligned to circumscribe a outwardcurve and said teeth being an extension of an edge of said distal end.12. The eyelash comb of claim 11, wherein said outward curve issubstantially a compound curve.
 13. The eyelash comb of claim 11,wherein said outward curve is substantially a parabolic curve.
 14. Theeyelash comb of claim 11, further comprising spring means positionedbetween said limbs for applying opening tension to said limbs.
 15. Theeyelash comb of claim 14, wherein said spring means is comprised ofcardboard or cardboard like material.
 16. The eyelash comb of claim 14,wherein said hinge is comprised of plastic.
 17. The eyelash comb ofclaim 1, wherein teeth of each of said toothed section are bent orangled inwardly toward each other.